Equality Network, a national LGBTQ+ equality and human rights charity, has expressed its disappointed after the Scottish Government gave no firm commitment to a timeline for legislating on Conversion Practices in Scotland in the Programme for Government announced on Wednesday, September 4.
The charity noted that while there might be benefits to be had from a four nations approach, such as the ability to regulate professions and advertising, these benefits would not make up for the downsides of waiting for a Westminster Bill – namely, the Scottish Government losing control of the content of the bill and the timeline for progress.
Erin Lux, Policy Coordinator at Equality Network, said: “Conversion Practices are still happening in Scotland, and result in significant, long-term harm to LGBTQ+ people. The timely progression of a bill and its accompanying support measures are essential to ensure that our community is protected from abuse and survivors receive the support they need to heal.”
Equality Network expressed concern that, while the Scottish Government conversion practices bill is already at an advanced stage of progress, with over four years of campaigning, committee work, and stakeholder engagement poured into producing the recommendations put forward in the Scottish Government consultation, much less progress has been made on proposals to end conversion practices at Westminster.
“Conversion Practices are still happening in Scotland, and result in significant, long-term harm to LGBTQ+ people.”
They also emphasised that survivors in Scotland have devoted their time and energy, and shared their stories and experiences, to help protect future generations from the abuse that they lived through.
Equality Network thinks it is absolutely vital that the hard work that has been done toward the Scottish Government bill is not lost in the process of working with, or waiting for, Westminster, and that exploring a cross-UK approach does not mean that the Scottish Government will settle for weaker protections and less-inclusive proposals.
Erin Lux added: “The highest priority, of course, must be that the best possible legislation is implemented that will protect LGBTQ+ people from, to quote from the Scottish Government’s introduction to the consultation on a Scottish bill, ‘damaging and destructive acts that violate the human rights of those that undergo them’. The Scottish Government would surely have far more influence and ability to end these practices in the most comprehensive and effective way if it chose to legislate here in Scotland.”
Equality Network concluded by stating that, regardless of where the legislation ultimately happens, work must continue on non-legislative measures in Scotland as a matter of urgency, and that progress on education, outreach, and survivor support services are essential in order to not just ban but end these abusive practices once and for all.
